The 10 Best Shoe Cleaners
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in March of 2018. Whether you’re a steadfast sneakerhead, the parent of a messy teenager, or just brutal on your favorite pair of dress shoes, these cleaners will keep your footwear fresh and well cared for. We cherry-picked products that are versatile and effective, with options for a host of materials, from expensive leather Oxfords to animal-friendly synthetics and everything in between. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Dr. Martens Wonder
2. Saphir Renovateur
3. Fiebing's Yellow
Editor's Notes
September 09, 2019:
We updated this list by removing items that had become unavailable (Shoe MGK Kit, Sof Sole 3-In-1) and replacing them with viable alternatives, and we decided to swap out ShoeAnew Bundle due to repeated reports of lackluster efficacy and discoloration issues.
That being said, discoloration, "clean rings", and other types of material manipulation is an occupational hazard of this category. There are too many factors that can affect the integrity of your shoe when it comes into contact with a cleaning solution. Using a harsh brush or abrasive cloth, adding water or not adding water, improper technique, and much more can adversely affect your results. You must protect your shoes by thoroughly researching how to clean the particular fabrics you're working with, using the proper tools, and always spot-testing a negligible portion of the material before adding the solution to the entire thing.
We wanted this list to boast products for both dress shoes and casual ones like sneakers, so we made sure there were selections for every type of material imaginable. We prioritized formulas for their ease of use, efficacy, versatility, and whether they come with helpful additions like brushes and cloths. We also paid attention to selections that are natural and thus friendlier to the environment.
Some of our choices, like the Saphir Renovateur and Lexol Two-Step, will cleanse and condition, but bear in mind that most of these formulas are meant to clean only. If you want to prolong the life of leather or give your shoes a lovely shine, you'll most likely need to purchase a conditioner or polish kit separately.
Special Honors
Florsheim Suede & Nubuck Cleaner Coming from a company with over a century of experience, this offering from Florsheim is manufactured in the United States and comes in a can with a scrubber top. Not only does it clean delicate nubuck and suede surfaces, but it also conditions and softens them while maintaining their original color. florsheim.com
4. Jason Markk Premium
5. Sneaker Lab Proactive
6. Crep Protect Cure
7. Lexol Two-Step
8. Pink Miracle
9. Crep Protect Ultimate
10. Angelus Easy
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.